Got a Nexus phone but can’t wait for the over-the-air update process to deliver the latest and greatest operating system to your handset? Simple, clear the service framework data and force the update key. But this is not the right thing to do, Google’s Dan Morrill explains on Reddit

“Doing this changes the primary ID by which Google knows your device. As far as the servers are concerned, the device was basically factory reset. There are many downstream effects of this, but a big one is that this invalidates the tokens used by any app that uses GCM (which is nearly all the Google apps, and a ton of third-party apps.”

This will have adverse effects on different apps. With Play Store you have to log out and log back in, With Gmail usually you won’t get new mail notifications for a while, etc. Some apps you may have to clear data on to recover. All apps will simply stop getting push-messages, until they get a new GCM ID.

It will not brick your device, but it makes a ton of nuisances on the device, including some that can look pretty annoying. So if you are impatient ‘adb sideload’ is a better choice.

According to reports the tablet is expected to roll out on the 21st of November. The launch has been delayed actually because of the Play Store. Google wants to optimize the Play Store to make all the tablet-optimized apps easier to browse before launching the Nexus 10 2.

The developers are already been notified to segregate their apps between tablets and smartphones. Finally Google is paying attention to lack of tablet optimized apps for Android by motivating developers.

The 10 inch tabled will boast an eye popping Gorilla Glass 3 display with 2560x1600p resolution. The device will also run on a quad core Snapdragon 800 chip processor with 3GB of RAM and an Adreno 330 GPU which sees it as a powerful device. The Nexus 10 2 will have an internal memory of 32GB and of course, the new Android 4.4 operating system. This device is also expected to have an 8 MP Primary Camera with 2.1 MP Front Facing Camera.

Google has announced on its official twitter and Google+ account that it will finally start rolling out Android 4.4 KitKat for Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets today. The update will be available over-the-air and your device will automatically notify you once the update arrives.

The update is coming to Nexus 7 & 10 with wi-fi version only

Image Credit : Twitter | Android

The company has also revealed that remaining devices with cellular data and our beloved Nexus 4 will get the update soon. The exact date has not been specified but it should be arriving soon.

To remind you, Android 4.4 brings several improvements and UI changes including cloud print support, revamped email and downloads apps and more over the 4.3.

According to a report from Wired,Google Now will get a face lift next week on November 13. This update will apparently include the addition of a couple of new features as well. For one, Google Now is about to get a lot more responsive and chatty. That means that the service may talk back to you, asking for confirmation or additional information. For instance, if you asked it to text someone by first name, and multiple matches showed up in your contacts, it would press you to specify which.

We also hear about better integration with other apps on your phone, searching within them and launching them when needed, and a number of improvements to the types of search results you’ll see. That could mean more detailed location-aware cards, including timetables for local attractions.

What are the other features? We don’t know? But the important part is we don’t have to wait long.

After a 2010 conflict between Google & Oracle over how Java works in Android, Google is moving on to a new runtime option that aims to redesign how Android interprets application code. For over two years, Google’s developers have been working on ART, a replacement for Dalvik that promises faster and more efficient execution, better battery life, and a more fluid experience.

Sometimes the best fix is the replacement

What is ART

ART stands for Android Runtime. It handles app execution in a fundamentally different way from Dalvik. ART is set to change this process by pre-compiling that appcode into machine language when apps are first installed, turning them into truly native apps. It is expected to cut the startup times immensely and ongoing execution will become faster, as well.

Potential Gains

Early benchmarks suggest that the new runtime is already capable of cutting execution time in half for most applications. This means that long-running, processor-intensive tasks will be able to finish faster. Regular applications will also benefit from smoother animations and more instantaneous responses to touch and other sensor data. Battery life is also expected to improve with better overall efficiency of the system.

The Trade Off

There are few trade offs. Turning to ART will increase the storage space requirement for apps. So Installing applications might take a little longer. Sounds like a worthy exchange.

The improvements are expected to be pretty amazing while the drawbacks should be virtually undetectable. Its good to see Google working at core of Android making it better over time.

Android 4.4 KitKat debuted last week with a smart new features one of them was smart new dialer that search Google Place Listing to search for the business or shop calling you, but that’s just the start of Google’s plans. Next year Google is coming up with Caller ID. Early next year the search giant plans to link Google+ profile pictures to mobile phone numbers. Everyone who has a verified phone number for a Google Account will be automatically listed in and will be linked to the associated Google+ account. In reality this means that anyone using Android to call, or receive a call, from a number linked to a Google+ account will see a profile image automatically without the need to have contact information stored.

It may lead to some privacy concerns but don’t worry Google is offering a way out

According to Android Software Engineer Attila Bodis

“”Coming in early 2014, users who have verified their phone number and have discovery turned on will have their names and Google Profile photos display whenever they call you, or you call them (it’s great if a new friend who hasn’t been saved in your contacts yet calls you). ”

If you are still concerned you can opt in or out of this service by visiting this link

The wait has come to an end and the Google’s Nexus 5 smartphone has gone from rumors to reality bringing with it the latest and greatest Android 4.4 KitKat. On the other side iPhone 5S is the flagship from Apple. You will see lots of comparisons in the coming weeks. Whether you’re in the shipping queue or just planning to buy one of these, vote in our poll and let us know which device do you think is better?

At its event in San Francisco, Google unveiled Android 4.4, the long-awaited KitKat. And it brings some serious changes to Android, and some much-awaited integration among Google services. First thing you will notice is some design tweaks in the UI which make Android cleaner and simpler than ever before. The status and notification bar are now translucent and disappear completely when you’re in a fullscreen app. The Google’s Roboto font has also got new condensed version. The dialer app has been completely re-thought. It will let you search for a person or business through Google’s database even if you don’t have the contact number stored in your contacts. The hangout app has become unified messaging system for Android integrating Google voice, chat and SMS. But these cosmetic changes are just half of the story the real thing is under the hood. Google has taken completely different approach with KitKat. Some of the most amazing features of the latest version are:

Android for Everyone

Android 4.4 is designed to run fast, smooth, and responsively on a much broader range of devices than ever before — including on millions of entry-level devices around the world that have as little as 512MB RAM – Google said on its official blog

KITKAT IS VERY MUCH INTENDED TO SOLVE GOOGLE’S FRAGMENTATION PROBLEMS

With better memory management throughout the OS and new APIs, Google has taken the OS efficiency to new heights. It will also help to deal with the Fragmentation issues of Android.

New NFC Capabilities

With Android 4.4 KitKat developers will be able to emulate your credit cards through Host Card Emulation (HCE), for payments, loyalty programs, card access, transit passes, and other custom services. There is no need for Secure Element to store your information.

Built in Printing Framework

With standard printing framework built at its core Android apps can now print any type of content over Wi-Fi or cloud-hosted services such as Google Cloud Print. In print-enabled apps, users can discover available printers, change paper sizes, choose specific pages to print, and print almost any kind of document, image, or file.

Low Power Sensors for Improved Overall Standby Time

With the new technique called Hardware Sensor Batching, Google has managed to reduce overall power consumption of sensors. According to Google “Sensor batching is ideal for low-power, long-running use-cases such as fitness, location tracking, monitoring, and more. It can makes your app more efficient and it lets you track sensor events continuously — even while the screen is off and the system is asleep.”

Image Credit : Google

Android 4.4 also adds platform support for two new composite sensors — step detector and step counter — that let your app track steps when the user is walking, running, or climbing stairs. These new sensors are implemented in hardware for low power consumption.

Framework for Beautiful Apps

Android 4.4 KitKat now supports full screen immersive mode. The System UI will hide when you use any full screen app or Game and it can be brought back with just swiping gesture from top or bottom of the screen. Android 4.4 introduces a new transitions framework to create high-quality animations in your app.

New Multi-Media Powerhouse

Android 4.4 adds support for screen recording and provides a screen recording utility that lets you capture video as you use the device and store it as an MP4 file. It’s a great new way to create walkthroughs and tutorials for your app, testing materials, marketing videos, and much more.

60 HOURS OF AUDIO PLAYBACK

Android 4.4 adds platform support for audio tunneling to a digital signal processor (DSP) in the device chipset for high-performance, lower-power audio playback. Google says the Nexus 5 can play music for up to 60 hours on a charge thanks to a new audio tunneling feature.

There’s plenty more in the full change log. Most of the features will help the developers community to bring us the awesome apps. So what do you think about the features of Android KitKat? Leave your opinion in comments.

Google started its Nexus program to show the world what pure Android can do with the powerful hardware. And the most amazing thing about Nexus program is its remarkable price. That’s why Google’s new device, the Nexus 5, has been so much hyped. After countless leaks and rumors the Google’s Nexus 5 is now a reality.

It is available today at the Google Play store. The fully unlocked device, priced at $349 with no contract for the 16GB model. The 32GB version will cost you $399, and both are available in white and black. In India it will be priced at INR 28990 for 16 GB and INR 32999 for 32 GB.

Most of the internals of the device have already been leaked. Under the hood is a 2.2Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 800 and 2GB of RAM and an eye popping 4.95-inch 1080p display. It will run the latest version of Android – 4.4 The kitKat. This device will also support wireless charging.

According to Official PR

“Nexus 5 also keeps you connected at blazing speeds with 4G/LTE and ultra fast wifi. The advanced new lens on Nexus 5 captures more light for brighter night and sharper action shots. And with optical image stabilization, you no longer have to worry about shaky hands and blurry pictures. A new HDR+ mode automatically snaps a rapid burst of photos and combines them to give you the best possible single shot.”

Nexus 5 is available today, unlocked and without a contract, on Google Play in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan and Korea (and coming soon to India).

There have been rumors about Android 4.4 KitKat launch everyday. We know its coming but there is nothing official yet. There have been several reports about KitKat’s likely features based on leaked screenshots and leaked photos of the Nexus 5 smartphone. But according to “jessicalessin” they have got access to a confidential file that Google shared with the manufacturers to explain the most important new features.

Less Fragmentation

According to the report Google is working hard to deal with the issue of Fragmentation with KitKat. The Android fragmentation makes it difficult for app developers to run the latest versions of their apps across all Android devices. Most of the low end phones are still running on older version of Android. According to the leaked document Android KitKat will work well on low end phones along with flagships.

Android 4.4 KitKat will also be compatible with the already sold low end devices

KitKat “optimizes memory use in every major component” and provides “tools to help developers create memory-efficient applications” for “entry-level devices,” such as those that have 512 megabytes of memory, according to the document.

The question remain about whether the wireless carriers will do a good job of pushing software upgrades to existing Android devices that already have been sold?

Future of Wearable

According to recent rumors, after Google Glass, the company is working on SmartWatch.

Support for new range of sensors

According to the leaked document, Android 4.4 KitKat is expected to support three new types of sensors: geomagnetic rotation vector, step detector and step counter. Which could be Android’s way of answering Apple’s inclusion of a dedicated motion processor in its latest iPhone. It will boost the features of forthcoming Google’s Smart Watch and Glass devices. The fitness tracking apps will also get a boost with inclusion of these sensors.

Another Push for NFC

Google is apparently still working on making NFC a bigger deal, and has also worked internally on improving smartphones’ skills controlling your TV and other devices. Till now developers have not been able to fully utilize the potential of NFC. With Android 4.4 KitKat developers will be able to emulate your credit cards without storing your credentials in secure element.

Universal Remote

Google wants your Android device to be a remote control. The next version of Android lets developers build apps that control TVs, tuners, switches and other devices by sending infrared signals.

One standard for all Android devices

But Google’s approach will be different. Rather than the fragmented approach brought by phone makers including Samsung, LG, Sony and HTC Google will try to unify the process of how Android communicate with IR. These companies write different apps to tell their devices to deal with the IR. Now there will be common standard of Android communication with the IR sensor.

Bluetooth Boost

Bluetooth is also rumored to see significant improvements, with Bluetooth HID over GATT and Message Access Profile increasing what Android-running hardware can talk with. Now Android will be able to communicate with Joy Sticks, Keyboards, Entertainment Systems and much more.